Appleby set to miss school in bid for Masters

AUSTRALIAN Masters organisers are confident that 2010 champion Stuart Appleby will play at Kingston Heath this week rather than attempt to regain his US PGA tour card through qualifying school.

Appleby finished 162nd on the US PGA money list after the final event of the year in Florida on Monday, leaving him well outside the top 125 who keep full cards and even those from 125 to 150 who retain partial status.

Nine-time US tour winner Appleby can use a one-time-only exemption for being inside the tour's top 50 lifetime tour money earners to remain on the tour next year rather than head to the Q-school second stage, starting this week.

Masters organisers believe Appleby will choose that option and be alongside defending champion Ian Poulter, of England, and Australia's top player, world No. 6 Adam Scott, who will play the tournament for the first time since 2009.

''At this stage we think his intentions are to come back and play,'' a tournament spokesperson said.

Appleby, 41, was forced to pull out of last year's Masters at Victoria after the first round due to a troublesome back, which has hampered him over the past two years.

It has been rumoured that one reason Appleby will use his one-off exemption is that he plans to retire from the US PGA tour sooner rather than later, wanting to give his four children a settled schooling.

Poulter, who spearheaded Europe's remarkable comeback victory to retain the Ryder Cup in September, arrived in Australia without his clubs, which were left behind in Los Angeles.

- Australian Rod Pampling has surrendered his place on the US PGA Tour. Entering the final event of the year at Disneyworld in Florida at 124th on the money list and needing to stay in the top 125, Pampling left his fate in the hands of others after missing the cut by a shot on Friday. He dropped to 127th - $US26,617 short - leaving him with only a provisional card for 2013.